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Written by:
Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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Every auto insurance provider is different and each has their own standards for determining whether a vehicle should be classified as a sports car. Most have a very complex set of equations to decide if a car is a sports car.

Each insurance company has its own vehicle classification system that is typically based upon ISO (Insurance Services Office) VIN system or other company proprietary ranking systems.

Both foreign and domestic private passenger autos are classified as vehicle type – sports car, high performance, luxury, van, truck, convertible, etc. Each of the following items helps determine a vehicle’s classification as a sports car or other type of vehicle:

  • Engine type
  • Manufacturer
  • Body style
  • Engine size
  • Full model name
  • Model/series
  • Body
  • Engine
  • Cylinders
  • Restraint
  • Restraint indicator
  • Anti-lock
  • Transmission
  • Other options
  • Daytime running lights
  • Wheelbase
  • Class code
  • Anti-theft
  • Curb weight
  • Gross vehicle weight
  • Height
  • Horsepower

There is no standard definition of a sports car among insurance companies. A general definition among consumers typically is a small, high-powered car with two doors. However, such a simplistic definition is insufficient with so many different vehicle models available today.

In today’s car market, it is not uncommon to see high-powered vehicles with highly tuned engines with four doors.

The only way to know if an insurance company considers a vehicle is to contact them directly and find out. And independent of whether your car is considered a sports car, you will be offered different rates from different companies, so you should always compare insurance quotes from multiple carriers to find the best deal.

Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Executive Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Contributing Writer

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.